Brian Marwood confident despite Manchester City's difficult draw

Assured: Manchester City's football administrator Marwood is confident despite tough draw
11 April 2012

Manchester City face a baptism of fire in the Champions League, but their football administrator Brian Marwood insists they can go all the way in Europe's top club competition.

City avoided a group of death in their first Champions League draw but Roberto Mancini's side will still come up against three tough opponents in Group A against Bayern Munich, Villarreal and Napoli.

Manchester United were given a much easier draw, in Group C alongside Benfica, the club they beat to secure their first European Cup in 1968, as well as Swiss champions Basle and unknowns Otelul Galati from Romania, who are making their bow in the competition.

Arsenal have to overcome Marseille, Greek champions Olympiakos and a potentially tricky test against Borussia Dortmund - the club among the pot of fourth seeds to avoid - in Group F.

Arsenal club secretary David Miles said: "We've been in the Champions League every season under Arsene's tenure. I'm pleased we don't have to travel too far, to the far off eastern European clubs. Arsene will see that as a big bonus."

Chelsea will face Valencia, the former club of latest new signing Juan Mata, and Genk from Belgium in Group E. City, among the pot of third seeds, could have been drawn against reigning champions Barcelona or Real Madrid but still ended up in the toughest-looking group.

Although Bayern Munich and Villarreal both had to come through a play-off to qualify, both clubs have plenty of Champions League experience.

Marwood, City's football administrator, said: "It's a very competitive group, four teams with great experience in Europe who have won honours at the highest level.

"But we feel we have a very competitive squad who can compete at this level. I believe this club has got great momentum now, it has been a fantastic few years, and it's something we want to maintain.

Asked if he believed City could even win the competition at the first attempt, he said: "You start out in a competition thinking you can win it of course, it would be wrong for me to say anything other than that. I genuinely do believe that we can compete at the highest level.

"We have built the squad up now so it is capable of playing in four competitions."

Napoli will be City's first opponents, at Eastlands on September 14. The Italians finished third in Serie A last season but have managed to hang on to the core of their team.

Sergio Aguero should be guaranteed a good welcome given that he is the son-in-law of Naples' favourite adopted son Diego Maradona.

United's group appears the easiest on paper, and Sir Alex Ferguson's men kick off the European campaign away against Benfica.

Ferguson said: "It's an interesting draw with no real travel difficulties.

"We've played Benfica in the past and they're always great games, and there's great history between the two clubs.

"Basle are doing really well. Swiss teams tend to bring lots of young players through their system, which is great. We have played them before, in 2002-03, in the group stage.

"We don't really know much about Otelul Galati but that's the beauty of the Champions League, you get fresh teams to play against. They obviously deserve to be in the competition."

Otelul Galati director general Marius Stan confirmed their home matches will be played in Bucharest because their stadium does not meet UEFA standards.

Stan said: "For us, it's a big honour to play Manchester. We want to win but it's impossible. We are a little team."

Arsenal's first task could be their hardest of the group stage - they have to play German champions Borussia Dortmund away, but they should be confident of overcoming both Marseille and Olympiakos.

Chelsea too should view themselves as more-than-capable of progressing to the knockout stages in Andres Villas-Boas' first season in charge, and their first match will see Leverkusen - and former player Michael Ballack - coming to Stamford Bridge on September 13.

Chelsea communications director Steve Atkins said: "Every draw throws up challenges and this is no different, and I have spoken to Andre [Villas-Boas] and he certainly feels that too.

"Valencia are a formidable team and a very difficult place to go with their support.

"Bayer Leverkusen is also a difficult one and we will be delighted to meet up with Michael Ballack again, and Genk too are full of talent and should not be underestimated."

Group H looked the one to avoid with both Barcelona and AC Milan, and BATE Borisov from Belarus and Czech side Viktoria Plzen were the unlucky ones.

Real Madrid face Lyon, Ajax and Dinamo Zagreb in Group D, Inter Milan, CSKA Moscow, Lille and Trabzonspor will fight in out in Group B, while Europa League winners Porto are in Group G with Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg and APOEL from Cyprus.

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